February Beginning of Lent Schedule. Senior Luncheon. Christ the King Lutheran Church Where We Are About God s Grace For God s People

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1 February 2018 Christ the King Lutheran Church Where We Are About God s Grace For God s People Inside this issue: Pastor s Corner 2 Youth News 4 Offerings & Attendance Stewardship Ministry 7 6 Beginning of Lent Schedule Can you believe that Lent is fast approaching? Lent is very early this year compared to last year, almost too early, but its here! This year, Lent begins officially on Ash Wednesday, February 14 th (Valentine s Day too!). We will be having worship with Holy Communion and Imposition of the Ashes at 7 PM. The annual tradition of Wednesday Lenten Worship and Soup Suppers begin the following week, February 21 st at 6 PM, and go until March 21 st. Mark the following dates as well: Palm Sunday is March 25 th, Maundy Thursday is March 29 th, Good Friday is March 30 th, and the festive celebration of Easter is April 1 st! Get ready! Educational Opportunities Those Who Serve 10 Calendar 11 Special points of interest: Lent Begins with Ash Wednesday, February 14th First Communion Study Starting February 25th Christian Education Opportunities Scheduled Tubing Party For the Family February 11th 8 If you would like to help us out for one of the following services too, let us know! We need extra help for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Thanks in advance! Senior Luncheon Reservations can now be made for the February Senior s Luncheon which will be held Tuesday, February 11th at 12:00 noon. The menu will include Beef Burgundy with Rice or Noodles, California Blend Vegetables, Garden Salad, Bun, Dessert and Beverage. The cost will remain $7 for You can made your reservation by signing the back of your worship response card or calling the church office. We are still looking for individuals who would be interested in sharing the cooking responsibilities for these luncheons. If you think you would like to give it a try or need to learn more about it then give Arlene a call.

2 Page 2 Pastor s Corner Joel 2:1-2 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness... The holy season of Lent looms heavy on the horizon this month. Wednesday, February 14 th marks the beginning of Lent as we get marked with the cross on Ash Wednesday. The Old Testament passage that s always associated with Ash Wednesday is seen above, from the prophet Joel. Joel s little book has a major message to get across: The day of the Lord is coming soon! As Christians we believe this day has begun already when Jesus marched up Cavalry Hill, was crucified for the sins of the world, exhaled his last breath, gave up his spirit (John 19:30), and died an agonizing death often reserved for traitors, for enemies of the state, for those who foster sedition in the peasantry. Yes, the beginning of this day was a day of darkness (Mark 15:33-34). Lent, the Prophet Joel s words, and the sufferings of our Lord are permanent reminders of how far humanity has fallen. This is why on Ash Wednesday we are marked with the cross to be reminded of our own mortality. Because of sin and the corruption humanity, because of human rebellion against their Creator, because of our failure to do what God has commanded, we are marked with the cross. Ash Wednesday is a painful reminder that we die. All of us. None of us will escape the clutches of the grave. The Bible is clear about this:...cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life... By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:17, 19 You return man to dust and say, Return, O children of man!... For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. Psalm 90:3, 9 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 The wages of sin is death Romans 6:23. Painful. But like all painful things we must go through, healing is on the other side. The Holy Spirit uses Lent to stir up the dead soil in our hearts. The Holy Spirit uses Lent to scorch in us those things which conflict with God s will. The Holy Spirit uses Lent to pick open the scabs we ve been trying to ignore, but just won t go away, the scabs that just won t heal from ordinary measures. Healing is on its way because Lent also reminds us how God gives life to the dead. Joel 2:27 makes this beautiful, after the pain mind you, promise You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. Lent is coming. We are reminded of the bitter reality of death. But we are also promised life. The Lord s beloved people will not be put to shame. The Lord s day will end with light, joy, and celebration. Darkness will be vanquished because sin will be forgiven at the cost of the life of the Son of God, Jesus our Lord

3 Page 3 Pastor s Corner Continued who has received power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Revelation 5:12). Amen! Your brother in Christ, Pastor Chris Church Sexton Transition It s always sad to see someone go, especially when they ve been a part of the church s fabric of daily life for almost 6 years. To that end, we give thanks to God for her dutiful service and wish the best to Kim Thorsen, our former church sexton, who resigned earlier in January. She received a full-time employment offer from Goodwill. We re excited for her and this new vocational adventure for her. Be sure to say hi to her if you see her around town or at her new place of labor. Also, be sure to say hi to a familiar face, Mike Saari, who has very capably stepped up and stepped right on in to be our new church sexton. We are thankful for how God provided someone for us so quickly! Our Deepest Sympathy Our deepest sympathy to Mary Anderson, her sister Tina and their families on the passing of their father, Don Anderson. Don had a quiet presence at our Thursday morning coffee hour nearly every week. He will be missed for his wittiness and certainly the donut holes that was his contribution. We are grateful to his daughter Mary who saw to it that he made it to coffee when he was no longer able to drive. May his family truly feel the peace and love of our Lord and Savior at this time. And, may these words comfort them and all who mourn Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy...so you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. Soup/Sandwich Makers Needed Our Lenten Soup Suppers will begin on Wednesday, February 21 and are at 6:00 p.m. We have a list started of soup makers which you will find on the office window. We still need people to sign up for various weeks so if you would like to serve in this way then we invite you to check the list out. The same goes for sandwiches. We have a list for individuals to sign up if they would be able to provide two dozen sandwiches on any given week. Even though our confirmation students are responsible for bringing the sweets we have a number of our members who also enjoy providing sweet treats. We would never turn you away and appreciate your contributions.

4 Page 4 Faith Formation: Confirmation +Be sure to Turn in Sermon Notes and memorize your Small Catechism! +Confirmation Classes continue throughout February on 9 AM +Friday, February 16 th Church-Lock In 7 PM + Sunday, February 25 th Northern Great Lakes Synod Annual MARKED! Event PM Location: First Lutheran Church Gladstone, MI from 4 PM to 7 +Saturday evening, March 10 th Texas BBQ Mission Trip Fundraiser Mission Trip Fundraisers It s going to cost about $1000 per student/adult to go to Houston for the ELCA Youth Gathering. This makes fundraising plans throughout the year challenging and all the more important. Our January chili and trivia challenge helped raise $433 for our trip to Houston - thanks to everyone who came in support, ate and were filled, and gave generously! It was such a fun night! This month, on February 3 rd and 4 th after worship, the confirmation students will be selling homemade sub-sandwiches for the sub-par Super Bowl. If you think that s a mouthful, you ought to try the meaty subs Stay tuned for future FUNdraising nights and events in 2018: A Texas BBQ, Mexican food night, and who knows what else! Thanks in advance for your generosity and helping our youth make this dream possible! First Communion Study Baptized Third Grade students at Christ the King have been receiving their First Communion during Maundy Thursday in Holy Week. We continue that important ministry and tradition. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to sign up their students for First Communion instruction which will begin in late February. We will meet for four (4) consecutive Sundays in February and March to prepare our students for receiving the precious gift of the Sacrament. First Communion class begins Sunday, February 25 th after worship. First Communicants will be welcomed to the Lord s Table on Maundy Thursday, March 29 th.

5 Page 5 Marked! Confirmation Event Every Northern Great Lakes Synod congregation is encouraged to participate in the upcoming confirmation MARKED! event. Why? Because every church involved is a wonderful, tangible expression of who we are as Synod walking together, making a difference for the Lord! The students this year are asked to collect the following items as they put together backpacks for fighting hunger in our community: Mac and cheese cups (not boxes) Granola bars Ramen noodles Chef Boyardee Products Popcorn Peanut butter Apple sauce or Fruit cups Snack sandwich crackers cheese or peanut butter Individual Cereal portions (either oatmeal packets, or cold cereal cups) Hope to see your confirmation students (and friends) there! Location: First Lutheran Church in Gladstone Time: 4 PM to 7 PM ELCA Delta Conference Annual Tubing Party Calling all, young and old, to the annual ELCA tubing party!! Here s what you need to know... When: Sunday February 11 th Where: Gladstone ski park Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm Cost: $3.00 per person or $10.00 per family Hot chocolate will be provided & please bring a snack to share Readings for February February 4 The 5th Sunday after Epiphany Isaiah 40:21-31; Ps. 147: 1-11, 20; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 February 11 Transfiguration of Our Lord 2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps. 50:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9 February 18 The 1st Sunday in Lent Genesis 9:8-17; Ps. 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15 February 25 The 2nd Sunday in Lent Genesis 17:1-7; 15-16; Ps. 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38 For any questions please contact Sherri Makowski at Hope to see you there!

6 Page 6 Offerings & Worship Attendance For January Date 5 P.M. 10:30 Total S.S. Confirmation January 6/ January 13/ January 20/ January 27/ Average attendance for January: 121 Offerings For January January 7 $5, January 14 $8, January 21 $3, January 28 $2, Year-To-Date Income: $18, Valentines To Give Your Children Acceptance Teach kids that you love them for who and what they are. Give this gift with a kiss. Self-confidence Help children understand that they can trust themselves. Give this gift with a hug. Life without needless fears Don t let your kids see you as a worrier. Give this gift with laughter. Appreciate Help children acquire a spark of gratitude and enjoy all of life. Give this gift as they go out the door. Faith Introduce your children to God, the best friend they ll ever have. Give this gift by taking them to church every Sunday.

7 Page 7 Stewardship Ministry Faithful Stewardship: Ways to Give and Make a Difference U.S. BONDS can be used to fund a life income gift such as a gift annuity. When U.S. Bonds are cashed the recipient pays ordinary taxes on the gain in the bonds, which is why so many are never cashed in by seniors. However, by cashing bonds and using the funds to enter an ELCA gift annuity, seniors can use the charitable deduction obtained from the gift annuity to help offset the income taxes from the savings bonds. The best part is that they will then obtain a partly tax free income for life, and the net result may be far better than if they simply cash the bonds. If you have U.S. Bonds, consider whether the cash from them may be used to make a gift that returns a life income for you. For more information contact: Timothy Knutsen, ELCA Foundation at or someone in the church office that can direct you. Offering Talk Focus for February: Council and Committees The Church Council and our various committees reflect the importance of how ministry must be done together. We are to be a purified people, zealous for the good, serving our living Lord joyously with all we are and have. The offerings this month especially remind us how we entrust the leaders in our church with important responsibilities, encourage their work, and support their Spirit-led decisions that reflect the blessed hope of our God at work in and around us all. Titus 2:13-14 we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Thankfulness: An Online Opportunity to Give If you need a convenient way to make recurring contributions, are out of town and would like to give, missed worship and still want to give out of the generosity of your heart, we encourage you to check out our electronic giving option. As we get back into the routine of things, you may find electronic giving a most welcome routine and an easy way to make contributions. To set up a recurring giving schedule, visit us online at and locate the Online Giving button on the right side of the webpage. Thank you for your generosity and support of God s work through Christ the King!

8 Page AM Bible Study: Gospel of John This month continue patiently walking through the Gospel of John, going step by step through a dense, symbolic, yet also easy to understand and theologically rich book which recounts the glory of Jesus Christ in his incarnation, through his teaching ministry, through his signs/miracles, and the fulfillment of the Father s redemptive plan through His Son s death and resurrection. Here s what we re covering and when this month: February 7 th John 2:1-12 Wedding at Cana February 14 th No class in observance of Ash Wednesday February 21 st John 2:13-25 The Temple and Signs February 29 th John 3:1-21 Nicodemus and the New Birth Thursday Theology 2017/2018 Winter Focus: Formula of Concord We continue our 7 month focus on the Formula of Concord where we ve been looking at some of the controversies surrounding Lutheranism after Luther died, and how the church worked together to come to important theological consensus which empowered the church for her mission, public teaching, worship, and proclamation. We meet in the library at 11:30 AM on the following Thursdays in February: February 8 th Article Seven: The Holy Supper February 22 nd Article Eight: The Person of Christ Lay School For Mission One of the great treasures of our synod and conference of churches in Delta County is Lay School. Over the years, students have gathered from around our conference; brothers and sisters in Christ from Escanaba, Gladstone, Stonington, Trenary, Rapid River, and anywhere in between. They gather to dive deeper into their life of faith with God, covering some of the significant tenets of our faith, what the Bible means, and the joyful struggle to communicate those timeless truths. Lay School has been on hiatus for a semester and again is on hiatus this Spring. Might the Lord be calling you to Lay School next Fall? Let us know!

9 Page 9 Let Us Pray For those Celebrating Birthdays On: February 2: Nancy Norberg, Tony Runkel February 3: Anna Slade February 6: Julie Irving, Vinny Orzel February 9: David DeVet, Nathan Tufnell February 10: Camree Bonifas February 11: Phyliss Eastman February 13: Shirley Lewis February 14: Fred Sundstrom February 16: Mary Martinson February 17: Dawn Martin February 20: Judy Anderson February 21: Isaac Berthaume February 23: Lois Miller February 24: Beth Carlson, Heather Johnson, Heather Leisner February 25: Ardy Ross February 26: Ardis Anderson February 29: Jean Arkens Dear Friends In Christ The Immanuel Lutheran Church Women in Escanaba are again holding their Annual Lenten Breakfast and Musical Program on Saturday, February 3rd. All are invited. Breakfast is served at 9:15 a.m. and will be followed by the program Listen, God is Calling at 10:00 a.m. The Immanuel Lutheran Church Choir, along with other guest soloists will provide the special music. A portion of the free-will offering will go to the Delta County Cancer Alliance. Because of limited seating you are asked to call early to make a breakfast reservation. Call or You do not need to make a reservation if attending the program only. The church is handicap accessible with plenty of parking. Elmer s Charity Points Thank you to all who have donated their Elmer s points to Christ the King s account at Elmer s County Market. Because of your generosity we accumulated enough points to cover the meal costs for our turn at serving the Bay Campus meal this past December. If you have not done this in the past and would like to you simply have to direct the cashier to transfer your designated points to our account. Again, thank you. We serve a meal at Bay twice a year and it was so nice not having to take the funds from our account.

10 Page 10 Those Who Serve Readers February 3/ 4 5:00 Mary Jo Johnson 10:30 Linda McDonald February 10/11 5:00 Lin VanEffen 10:30 Heather Albanez February 17/18 5:00 Dawn Martin 10:30 Roland Jacobson February 24/25 5:00 Sam LaMarche 10:30 Leigh Schmidt Acolytes February 3/ 4 5:00 Caydence Carter 10:30 Jillian Cobb February 10/11 5:00 Ella Johnson 10:30 Tregan Lippens February 17/18 5:00 Ashton Moran 10:30 Isaac Berthaume February 24/25 5:00 Elizabeth Brandel 10:30 Elijah Berthaume Altar Guild February 3/ 4 Mary Jo Johnson & Tammy Jensen February 10/11 Lin & Bob VanEffen & Judy Anderson February 17/18 Laverne Picard & Connie Schmidt February 24/25 Diane & Bill Mitchell & Marlene & Tom Raeder Assisting Minister February 3/ 4 5:00 Mary Jo Johnson 10:30 Lance Lindstrom February 10/11 5:00 Bob VanEffen 10:30 Connie Schmidt February 17/18 5:00 Nancy Norberg 10:30 Roland Jacobson February 24/25 5:00 Sam LaMarche 10:30 Lance Lindstrom Communion Assistants February 3/ 4 5:00 Mary Jo Johnson 10:30 Lance Lindstrom & Pat Johnson February 10/11 5:00 Bob VanEffen 10:30 Leigh & Connie Schmidt February 17/18 5:00 Nancy Norberg 10:30 Roland & Sandy Jacobson February 24/25 5:00 Sam LaMarche 10:30 Lance Lindstrom

11 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 10:00 Coffee with the Staff :00 Communion :00 Faith Formation 9:30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion 11:45 Annual Congregation Mtg. 7:00 Property Committee Meeting 1:00 Joy Book Club 7:30 Dartball 9:00 Quilting 9:30 Bible Study 10:00 Coffee with the Staff 11:30 Thursday Theology 5:00 Communion :00 Faith Formation 9:30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion 6:30 Tubing Party 3:00 Worship & Music Meeting 12:00 Sr. Luncheon 1:00 Joy Book Club 7:30 Dartball 9:00 Quilting 7:00 Ash Wednesday 10:00 Coffee with the Staff 5:30 Finance Mtg. 6:15 Church Council Meeting 7:00 Confirmation Lock-In 5:00 Communion 18 9:00 Faith Formation 9:30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion 2:00 Northland Annual Marinette 25 9:00 Faith Formation 9:30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion 12:00 1st Communion Class 4:00 Marked! Synod Gladstone :00 Joy Book Club 7:30 Dartball :00 Joy Book Club 7:30 Dartball 9:00 Quilting 9:30 Bible Study 6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Lenten Midweek 9:00 Quilting 9:30 Bible Study 6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Lenten Midweek :00 Coffee with the Staff 11:30 Thursday Theology :00 of the Word

12 1230 North 18th Street Escanaba, Michigan Address Requested Phone: (906) We re on the Web! KING S HERALD February 2018 CHURCH OFFICE PASTOR Rev. Chris Johnson address: pastorchris.ctk@gmail.com CHURCH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Arlene Cody address: c.lutheran@att.net Website: WORSHIP SCHEDULE: Saturday 5:00 p.m. Worship Sunday 9:00 a.m. Youth Faith Formation; 9:30 a.m. Coffee Hour; 10:30 Worship Holy Communion is celebrated at every Saturday and Sunday service. At the 10:30 a.m. service communion will be distributed using continuous communion.